jm11 (ted's strings)for blues, rock, folk,etc...

**ira** · Sep-26-2005, 11:39am

hi,
i've been using the bush monel strings, and have been relatively happy with them. a bit too beefy in the "g' course with my action (that i like) and the banjo frets, and the 'e' course is kinda wimpy, but i like the overall tone. i don't play much in the way of straight jazz, though sometimes in loose jam playing live, get into some funky progressions, chords (don't even know the names), and notes. mainly play folk, rock and da blues. if live, usually through my pickup into a preamp and p.a. or into my effects and pa.
how would the jm11 (jazzmando) strings work for this type of music,etc... never tried the thomastiks- prohibitively expensive. used to use elixirs- didn't do what i wanted and the d'addario flatwounds- liked the feel (after they were worked in) but not enough projection, and a little damp.

so?

?

thanks,
ira

**glauber** · Sep-26-2005, 12:05pm

One way to find out, man!

I think they'll work fine, especially if you like the monels. Just send Ted some "monel" and find out!

**phynie** · Sep-26-2005, 12:12pm

I agree with glauber. Take the dive! I play in alot of live situations. Either into a mic or with a pickup. And I only use the jm-11's. they work beautifully. Chords sound rich and smooth and noting is clear and bright. I use them on both a lyon and healy oval hole and a moonbean f hole and they work great. The music I play is primarily jazz standards, gypsy swing, and grateful dead tunes; and thezse strings seem to suit the music perfectly. I honestly cannot say enough about them. Other than the fact that the wound strings last so long that I have to use spare j74 a and e's to compensate for the d and g's LONG lifetime. Can't say that about many other sets of strings.
Go for it! I do not think you will be disappointed.

**glauber** · Sep-26-2005, 12:23pm

I buy bulk .011 and .015 strings to replace the Es and As when i feel they're losing their brightness. Cheaper this way.

**phynie** · Sep-26-2005, 1:39pm

Where do you get these bulk strings? Just strings.com? I was just using the leftover packs of j74's I had. duhhhhhh.

**glauber** · Sep-26-2005, 1:56pm

Juststrings.com. I actually bought loop-end and ball-end strings (the ball-ends for the Ovation). These are no-name strings. FQMS has slightly more expensive "name" strings in bulk.

**muldoon** · Sep-26-2005, 2:18pm

Here's a rookie question for you. In the "Lessons" menu item on the Cafe (http://www.mandolincafe.com/bluegrass.html)
one of the 10 recommendations is to change your strings every month.

Do you guys do that? Seems kinda soon to me.

**glauber** · Sep-26-2005, 3:05pm

Most mandolin string sets will last about 3 weeks, especially the phosphor-bronze kinds. The flatwounds seem to last a little longer. YMMV. Some people like the sound of new strings - there's anedoctal information that some pros have them changed daily. Others prefer the mellower sound of older strings.

**phynie** · Sep-26-2005, 3:18pm

Well muldoon, I play HARD. So if they do not bust before I need to change em', the flatwounds last me bout 2 months. As far as phos-bronze or bronze, they last me a show or two at the most. But the combo of flatwound and steel seems to hold up to my super corrosisve acid sweat much longer. I thought I found the solution with js-74's, but they still give after about 4 shows or two weeks. So the jm-11's are a heaven sent for me!
I think it is up to you as to when you need to change the strings. I usually find that when they start to have a really hard time staying in tune, it's time to change. One tip that seems to help me a bunch is having a low lint cloth and a bottle of rubbing alcohol handy. just wipe em' down after you are done and they will last far longer and sound better too. and don't forget to clean under them strings neither! That's where the "funk" lives!

**phynie** · Sep-26-2005, 3:19pm

BTW, thanks for the suggestion glauber!

**ira** · Oct-24-2005, 12:07am

ok, i got the jm11s about 2 weeks ago, but i had a gig 2 fridays in a row, and had just put on a new set of sambush strings, so didn't want to cut em or take a chance on the jazzmandos until gigs were done.
just strung it up, played for a coupla hours, and so far, pretty amazed (though initially freaked by the visual of red against my mando peghead on the wound strings...they do stand out a tad).

volume is not bad, not screaming loud, but certainly not as damp as the d'addario flatwounds. tone is incredible- sweet and clear. just tooling around, (sorry for the guitar analogy, but best i can think of) kinda clapton-like. a nice warmth that i found was there, though different with the sammys, but a tad more ring/sustain to my chords. i do lose some of the raw edge though that the sb's offered.

most wonderful is the sound up the neck. my 'g' course has never sounded as clear. as for feel/playability smooth as silk. i do a ton of finger sliding, hammers and pulls, as well as, bending -especially on the 'a' and 'd' courses and it is just incredible with these strings.

though i love the feel and the clarity of the 'g' , i do wish it were just a tad more beefy- the 41 of the bush strings was too much, heavy to play, bulky feeling, and with my banjo frets, caused a bit of buzz and decreased clarity up the neck toward the bridge. these are clear, but feel a bit too light., i prob just need to get used to em after a year of sammy strings.
the a and e are familiar as they are pretty much the same as what i was playing, and therefore, i know they will break with some hard playing- and i am pretty hard, especially on a night if i'm just jammin with lots of friends (guess i need some bulk a and e as well if i go with these- are the j74s the way to go in this situation? the sam's came with extra a and e strings thank goodness!)

dont' know why ted advertises these as specifically for closed position players and for only those genres, as i play very little on all 4 strings at the same time- generally 2-3 fingers at a time, mostly rock, blues and modern folk, and it sounds good to me so far using these strings.

anyway, will add to the report tom. re: any diffs after a day of playing.

ted- thanks and congrats on your work in getting these (what seem to be superb) strings made for at least this one of those folks who couldn't afford the t.i.s

peace,
ira

**mythicfish** · Oct-24-2005, 6:50am

Ira,
Personally, I love the red windings on the JM11s. I've had great success in getting greater volume and sustain out of the e and a courses using a one-piece maple bridge a la Red Henry.

Curt

**luckylarue** · Oct-24-2005, 9:58am

I'm still playing the first set of JM-11's that I strung up in June and I think they still sound great. I play mostly bluegrass/fiddle tunes, for what it's worth.

**bjc** · Oct-24-2005, 1:15pm

Just wish there were some JM-10's for those of us with tendon issues. How 'bout it Ted? Or would that defeat the purpose of the gauges?

**ira** · Oct-25-2005, 8:47am

day 2 report- so, the tone has become even more sweet and clear. my wife even asked what was different about my mando. when i asked her why, she said the notes sounded more sharp-that theyjust sounded better (hey, she isn't a musician, but i understood)./
folk, most blues and gd type jam/experimentation sound great, some of the more gentle rock stuff sound really nice as well. overall, i am thrilled with the feel and the sound.
my only issue at present is the 'g' course. though the sammy's were a tad large, caused a bit of buzz, harder to bend and play up the neck, and they didn't have the ring of the jm11 which i didn't even realize that i missed when switching to the monels. the beefy g really helped with raw sounding blues and more rockin rock tunes (i do an original into willie and the handjive, in which i do a 2 course slide up to the 'a' in the intro and coming out of the chorus on the 'g' and 'd' courses that gives it that funky old time rock raw sound). don't think i'd want to go 41, but a 35 or 36 in this course would make these the perfect string set.

i am gonna give em another week to see how they play/sound when jamming with others and to others before making a decision as to what i want to give up. haven't found the perfect strings yet. these, in terms of feel/playability, and general sound are pretty close. just have to see if i can get the sound i'm looking for on those kinda tunes.

anyway, so far so good!
peace,
ira:blues:

**JEStanek** · Oct-25-2005, 9:45am

Ira, Labella, who Ted partnered with to make these flatwounds also makes two other Labella brand Flatwounds. See the classifieds a search for Labella Flatwound gave me Ted's and another couple of sets from The Music Tree (NO FINANCIAL INTEREST in either).
From the Music Tree Ad...
MF20 Set- silver plated, all flatwound except the "E" strings. -Guages are 010,020,026,033.

MF10 Set- The guages are 011,015,024,031- ( no wound A string)
These are a little different from Ted's sets and none have a heavier G guage... and they are a tad more expensive. I might try the set with the wound A just to see if there is a difference for me (Ted doesn't feel the wound A is worth the added expense)but I really love the sound of the JM-11s on my oval hole.

It would seem the fine folks at Labella are willing to work with people to make a string product so maybe a heavier flatwound G would be possible (need good market data..)

Jamie

**ira** · Oct-25-2005, 11:05am

hmmmm, at present that 'g' is my only concern. not sure if it is shared enough by others, and not sure if i know how to find out. so, i don't think any company would want to listen to one guy who changes strings every coupla months. i am pretty happy with the jm 11s other than the g, so the other sets don't make sense for me.
thanks for the info, as any extra knowledge is a good thing..

**glauber** · Oct-25-2005, 11:18am

There just isn't a lot of choice with flatwounds.

**ira** · Oct-25-2005, 11:50am

true, and they are all so diff. those d'addario's felt so "sticky" for lack of a better term for the first bunch of days, i just couldn't use em.plus- really damp volume. so, materials arent't the issue.just size...